Need help with locating a privy

[GeneralStukov]

HI there been reading the forums here and today just decided to become a member I just found out how good privys can be for treasure but i dont know where to began looking for one and how to go about doing so if anyone can help that would be awsome.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Follow your nose
Or look for old homestead foundations. Try to figure out where the house set and where the front of it would have been. No one ever built the outhouse in front so if you can figure out where the front was then go to the back. Look for sunken areas. If the hole was filled in or caved in it would have settled some.
Good luck and oh yeah, welcome to TQ !!

[GeneralStukov]

Thanks to everyone who replied back to me these are some great tips. Hopefully if it warms up over i can start searching thanks again for everyones help.

[fairfinder59]

Hi, I'm new to this site also but from what I have been reading about Privy Digging if you can locate the back the foundation, measure out about 20ft or so then find out which way the wind is blowing then look down wind from there. Look for any signs of sunken ground. I hope this helps. Happy Digging!!

[rip]

You might want to get a probe.This is a steel rod ,mine is 5 ft long with a t handel and the tip wants to be slightly larger than the rod.You use it by probing the ground and look for soft spots.You also want to cheak the soil brought up on the tip.Look for things like ash,brick etc.Also get yourself a sifter and sift the dirt you dig to find smaller stuff like marbles,coins etc.Like free said you will sometimes find flowers and such planted close by.Some were rock/brick or wood lined.I have one i've been meaning to dig that is rock lined and dates to the 1700's. Do an internet search for "privy dig" There are some very cool stuff found in privy's ! HH !

[cjoej]

If your site is in a town, go to the library and look up the Sanborn Insurance maps. They will show all structures and include updates that will show changes over time. This can be a great source of locating homes, businesses, who owned property, time frames etc.

You can also use Dowsing to locate the outhouse(s).

Don't forget to hunt the cloths line area.

SWC
Joe